Things that used to be better when I was your age… Paper.

That’s right. Paper. How is this possible, you may ask? Well I’ll tell ya, back in the day, paper was everywhere. In your printer trays, your newspapers, your course guides. Today? Not so much.When I was a freshman at this fine institution, there was so much paper that we didn’t know what to do with it all. Some days I’d just see people wearing it around all over their bodies, just for the hell of it. Silly? Sure, but we were young and stupid.These days, those displays of youthful innocence and exuberance are gone. We’re taught to treat each piece of paper like it’s literally part of a tree and the “environment.” That’s all well and good. I like the environment. I live in one. It provides me oxygen and other useful things like that.But this paper deal? It’s a problem. The University has decided to limit each student’s printing capabilities (capped, I believe, at 2,100 sheets per year). While the limit may seem rather high, just think of the seniors (like me). Theses! Transcripts! Résumés! It all adds up.Moreover, I’d prefer to enjoy the notion that my learning capabilities will never be restricted by printing limits. Ever try to read more than 50 pages of an e-reserve on your laptop? If so, you’re probably not reading this right now because your corneas have been burned out of your skull.There’s also something nice about printing something out, and really attacking it with a pen and a highlighter. Underlining, taking notes. It’s perversely satisfying. Also, studies that I’ve just made up in my head indicate that a student absorbs material 87% better when reading on paper than on a screen. Isn’t that 87% something worth valuing?The other main paper gripe really grinding my gears these days? Course guides. If you’re a freshman, you’re probably asking yourself, “What’s a course guide?” Good question, Timmy, Course guides are these wonderfully useful booklets that contain all the essential information about every class being offered next semester. Professor, requirements, meeting times. The whole nine yards. Sound’s lovely, doesn’t it?Well, sh**, son. Should've been born four years earlier. It was almost like it was too convenient, too student-friendly. After all, why present information to students in an easy-to-read, easy-to-digest manner when you can make them jump through the hoops that dozens of checkable boxes provide?Also, there was nothing quite like the excitement that you’d feel twice a semester when you’d open your mailbox, and there it would be — a brand new course guide, all for you! It was like the semi-annual Christmas for nerds (that’s all of us, by the way).Now? No paper and no Nerd Christmas. Oh, my sweet, sweet paper. I thought we had something special. Now all Princeton lets me do is wipe my ass with you. I’m sorry. You deserve better. We all do.(image source: thedailygreen.com)